Description

Over the past two decades, the major international corporations have become industrial lobbyists within the European Union to such an extent that they pose a threat to democracy. This new and fully revised edition of Europe Inc. provides a much-needed insight into the systematic ways in which transnational corporations work through lobby groups to shape EU policy. With a new introduction, updated statistics and new resources, it's an invaluable handbook for anyone interested in the EU and the political power that corporations wield. The authors cover the major players in this anti-democratic practice and analyse the factors that have enabled corporate influence in Europe to dominate.
They examine how governments have been persuaded to increase competitiveness by dismantling and privatising public services, deregulating industry, and dismantling social and environmental protections; the increasing influence of corporate lobby groups on decision makers and the corresponding lack of voice given to small business, organised labour and individual citizens; the impact of the single market and currency; structural adjustment in Eastern Europe; the role of European industrial lobby groups within the WTO, and the important Multilateral Agreement on Investment. Case studies include the biotech industry, the public relations industry and the UN climate summit.show more

About Belen Balanya

Belen Balanya works with the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) in Amsterdam. CEO is a research and campaign group targeting the threats to democracy, equity, social justice and the environment posed by the economic and political power of corporations and their lobby groups. Ann Doherty works with Oliver Hoedeman works with the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) in Amsterdam. CEO is a research and campaign group targeting the threats to democracy, equity, social justice and the environment posed by the economic and political power of corporations and their lobby groups. Adam Ma'anit works with the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) in Amsterdam. CEO is a research and campaign group targeting the threats to democracy, equity, social justice and the environment posed by the economic and political power of corporations and their lobby groups. Erik Wesselius works with the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) in Amsterdam. CEO is a research and campaign group targeting the threats to democracy, equity, social justice and the environment posed by the economic and political power of corporations and their lobby groups.show more

Table of contents

Foreword By George Monbiot INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW EDITION Introduction I Corporate Europe 1. Welcome To Corporate Europe 2. Laying The Foundations: European PR Agencies And Think-Tanks 3. Writing The Script: The European Roundtable Of Industrialists 4. UNICE: Industry's Well-Oiled Lobby Machine 5. AMCHAM Chimes In With The Brussels Corporate Choir 6. Polishing The EMU: The Association For The Monetary Union Of Europe 7. Doing Business In Amsterdam: The ERT, UNICE And The Treaty Of Amsterdam 8. Oiling The Wheels: Lobbying For European Transport Infrastructure 9. Forcefeeding Europe: The Biotech Lobby II Going Global 10. Globalisation: Corporate-led, EU-fed 11. The Transatlantic Connection 12. Maigalomania: The Global Corporate Investment Agenda And The Citizens' Movement Opposing It 13. The WTO Millennium Bug: Corporate Control over Global Trade Politics III Planet Inc. 14. Planet Inc. 15. Global Elite Meetings: The Bilderberg Group, The Trilateral Commission And The World Economic Forum 16. Exploiting Sustainability: The World Business Council For Sustainable Development 17. The Weather Gods: Corporations Profit From Climate Change 18. The Corporate Cooptation Of The United Nations IV Challenging Corporate Power 19. Challenging Corporate Power V. Appendices 1. Navigating The Brussels Labyrinth: The European Union And Its Institutions 2. A Condensed History Of The EU 3. List Of ERT Members And Their Companies 4. Glossary Of Abbreviations 5. Resources Indexshow more